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Updated January 10, 2024·
If excellent photo and video quality are crucial for you, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ stands out with better camera performance, but at a higher price than the Motorola Edge (2020). The S21+ also boasts a glass back compared to the Motorola's plastic, offering a more premium feel and durability. For a smoother display experience, the S21+ features a higher refresh rate, yet this may impact the battery life, which is slightly better on the Motorola. The Motorola Edge (2020), however, offers a longer battery life and more storage space, and it comes with a headphone jack, which is absent on the S21+. Both have large screens, but the S21+ has a slightly higher screen quality. If the price is a significant concern and you're content with good but not top-tier camera quality, the Motorola could be a better fit, especially considering its ample storage and endurance. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Motorola Edge (2020)
- The Motorola Edge (2020) has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S21+.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21+
- Good for taking photos
- Fair for recording videos
- Very good battery life
- Very good display quality
- Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
4.7
7.2
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ has good overall camera quality, while the Motorola Edge (2020) has poor overall camera quality.
The Motorola Edge (2020)'s camera falls short primarily due to a poor experience in photo software, dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, as well as a notably lower quality in selfie capture. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ offers a very good photo software experience, better low light capabilities, and greater versatility, alongside a higher quality selfie camera.
Photo Quality
4.8
7.0
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ takes good photos, while the Motorola Edge (2020) takes poor photos.
The Motorola Edge (2020) captures poor selfies mainly due to its lower selfie quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21+ takes better pictures as it has a higher selfie quality and a better overall photos software experience, improving photo finishing and handling of different conditions such as dynamic range and low light.
Video Quality
4.2
6.6
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ takes only fair videos, while the Motorola Edge (2020) takes poor videos.
The Motorola Edge (2020) produces subpar video content due to its poor video stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, as well as a less favorable overall video software experience, resulting in lower video quality, especially in challenging conditions.
Cost
$120
$340
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
The Motorola Edge (2020) has a price of $120 and the Samsung Galaxy S21+ costs $340.
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Key similarities
Battery
7.8 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Motorola Edge (2020) has 7.8 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21+ has 8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Motorola Edge (2020) has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21+ is 6.7 inches.
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How the Motorola Edge (2020) and the Samsung Galaxy S21+ compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Motorola Edge (2020) | Samsung Galaxy S21+ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$120 | $340 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Motorola | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 29, 2020 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 385 | 394 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD765G | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 256 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 4.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 4.9/10 | 7/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 4.3/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 64 megapixels | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4800 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | No | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 0 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.36" x 2.8" | 6.36" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.63 oz | 7.05 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 5 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 78 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Solar Black | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Gold, Phantom Red | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | Yes | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | Yes | No | |
Shopping
Motorola Edge (2020)
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TechRadar
Tom Bedford | July 2020
"The Motorola Edge has a battery that won’t leave you wanting, whether you just want to take some pictures, or play games and record videos for much of the day, so if you don’t want to worry about having to top up your device all the time, the Edge might be a good choice. Leaving aside its impressive specs and features, the Motorola Edge just looks pretty good, and it feels great in the hand too, so if ‘style’ is a factor in your phone-buying decisions the Edge is well worth a look."
Samsung Galaxy S21+
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Tom's Guide
Jordan Palmer | May 2022
"All told, Samsung nailed it with the Galaxy S21 Plus. It has most of the strengths of the smaller S21 in a bigger package. It’s got a lot going for it. If you’re coming from an older device, like the Galaxy S10 series, this is a solid upgrade."
Get a great deal on the Motorola Edge (2020) or the Samsung Galaxy S21+
About Motorola
Motorola, a well-known name in the smartphone world, has a long-standing legacy in the industry, with a history dating back to the early days of mobile phones. The brand is mostly known for striking a balance between affordability and functionality, as well as providing a clean and straightforward interface with their software skin on top of Android. While they have traditionally been prominent in the budget and midrange categories, Motorola has also occasionally ventured into the high-end category for smartphones.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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